000284 


D 753 

.8 

. A52 
1942c 
Copy 1 






PACIFIC COAST ATTITUDES TOWARD THE JAPANESE PROBLEM 








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The Answers to a Series of Questions Asked 
of 797 Citizens of the Pacific Coast States 

Northern California . . . 167 
Southern California . . . 310 
Oregon ...... * . « 136 

Washington .... . * . IBk 


t 

Interviewing Period: February 7> 19^+2 - February 13* 19^2 
Pate of Report: February 28, 19^2 


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Study Planned and Summarized by the Polling Division, 
Bureau of Intelligence, A OFFICE OF FACTS ADD FIGURES, 
in Collaboration with the national Opinion Research 
Center of the University of Denver 








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U Pacific Coast Attitudes Toward the Japanese Problem 


Summary 


(1) Porty per cent of the Pacific Coast sample interviewed thought 
there were many disloyal aliens in their vicinity# But Califor¬ 
nians and Oregonians were far more frequently of this opinion 
than residents of Washington. In all states, practically all 
who believed there were disloyal aliens around them named the 
Japanese specifically. 

(2) Three fourths of Southern Californians believe that "only a few" 
or "practically none” of the Japaneso aliens in the stato are 
loyal to the United States* In Oregon slightly more than half 

of all respondents believed that half or more of them were loyal. 

(3) Slightly more than half of the Southern Californians also felt 
that "pra.ctically all” or ’’most” of the Japaneso aliens would 
"actually do something against the United States if they had a 
chance". 

(4) More than two-thirds of respondents in all three states believed 
Japaneso aliens more dangerous than Gormans or Italians. 

(5) Three-fourths of Southorn Californians recommend segregating all 
Japaneso aliens in camps. In northern California loss than half 
of the pooplo fa.vorod this troa,tmont* One third of the Southern 
Californians would also segregate Japanese who are citizens, but 
in the other throe Paaific Coast areas no more than l4 per cent 
rocommonded this drastic a.ction. 

(6) The P.3.1, was most frequently named as the agency which should 
handlo the Japanese problem on the coa,st. Roughly one in four 
in all statos thought their stale government had been handling 
the problem "very well"; approximately the same number so ap¬ 
praised the local officials 1 handling of this problem; and 37 
per cent thought the Jfcdoral Government had done "very well" in 
this respect. Southern Californians were most critical of all 
three governmental agencios. 



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V 








Pacific Coast Attitudes Toward The Japanese Problem 


Size and 
Loyalty 
of Alien 
Population 


Discussion of Findings 

A cross soction of 797 citizens of the Pacific Coast 
States were asked a series of questions dosignod to have them 
evaluate the numerical size end seriousness of tho Japanese 
problem in their vicinities, to commont on the officc.cy with 
which tho problem was being handled, and to recommend ways of 
dealing with the problem* 

The first impression from tho interviewing results 
is that tho intensity of suspicion toward aliens (and particu¬ 
larly Japanese aliens) varies in direct proportion to their 
numbers in the community* 

Although 40 per cent of tho total sample of adult 
citizens interviewed thought there wore many disloyal enemy 
aliens in their vicinity, there were va.st differences among 
the three coastal states on this score,* Whore just under 


* Specific questions on which all results in this report are 
based are shown in tho attached appendix. 
















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half the Californians and Oregonians agreed that there wore 
,f many aliens around hero who arc not loyal to the Unitod 
States 1 *, only one seventh of the persons in the state of Wash¬ 
ington held this view.* 

In all states, however, practically all who felt 
there were disloyal aliens around named tho Japanese, and they 
were named approximately twice as often as Germans. Oregonians 
and Southern Californians considered the German alions consi¬ 
derably more of a menace than the Italians, from the standpoint 
of the number who were disloyal, but in Washington and in Nor¬ 
thern California whore the Italian population is larger, Ital¬ 
ian aliens wore cited as disloyal just as frequently a,s Germans* 

Although tho smallness of the sample makes it hazard** 
ous to rely very strongly on occupational breakdowns, it is in¬ 
teresting to note that in Washington the farmers led other 
groups in feeling that there were disloyal alions around; in 
Oregon it was the laborers, and in California, tho professional 


* 1940 Census figures for aliens in California, Oregon, and 

Washington; Ca lifornia Oregon Washington 


Japanese 

Germans 

Italians 


33,569 

19,417 

52,00s 


1,617 

1,849 

1,960 


5,683 

2,937 

3,9ii 





















and white collar workers who loaned most heavily toward this 
feeling** 


Those occupational differences arc interesting in 
the light of the variations which are apparent in terms of ec¬ 
onomic status of the respondent* In Washington, tho prosperous 
arc much less inclined to feel that there are disloyal aliens in 
the vicinity thou arc those of ’’average * 1 or 1 , poor t! status* In 
Oregon, on the other hand, the prosperous arc the most alarmed; 
those in the average group, the leastj while in California the 
poor people arc most likely, and those in the average group 
again least likely to think there arc disloyal aliens around 
the'm. 


Although educational difference was not a significant 
variable in California, in Washington the bettor educated arc 
less inclined to boliovo there are many disloyal aliens in 
their vicinity, and in Oregon there is a slight tendency for the 
revorso to be true* 


* The size of the sample in this study is such that too strong 
relianco on any of tho more detailed breakdowns reported hero¬ 
in is inadvisable. They a.ro included a.s possible guides for 

more extensive research, rather than as definitive findings. 







V 


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Estimates 

of Size of 
Japanese 

Alien. 

Population 

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Hicre is also a tendency for older persons to name the 
Japanese as disloyal aliens more frequently than do the younger 
population, and this tendoncy is most pronounced in California* 
where those over 40 arc about 10 per cent higher than those 
under 40 in thinking there are disloyal aliens about; 

Asked to cstimato the number of Japanese aliens in 
their state, one fourth of the Californians and Ofegonians* and 
15 per cent of the Washingtonians overestimated. In all three 
states there is little relationship between overestimating the 
sizo of the alien population and the general feeling that dis¬ 
loyal aliens exist in the vicinity. Elis fact, taken in con¬ 
junction with the finding that the larger the actual number of 
Japanese aliens in the community, the more inclined the people 
are to believe there are many disloyal aliens around thorn, per¬ 
haps shows that the important fa.ctor is the gorier el impression 
of the relative size of the alion population rather than any 
exa.ct estimate of their numbers. 

This result, plus tho fact that the interviewers on 
the spot roprtod a, great doal of difficulty in getting respon¬ 
dents to hazard guesses on their population figures, and a. cor¬ 
responding feeling that what figures were finally elicited were 
generally meaningless, made it seem inadvisable to roly on them 


for breakdowns or cross tabulations. 









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Estimate 


Three-fourths of Southern Californians declared that 


of the 
numocr of 

disloyal 

Japanese 

- . . 

aliens 


"only a few" or "practically none 11 of the Japanese aliens in 

the state arc loyal to the United States. Oregonians were 
most charitable in this respect, with 4l per cent holding 
those extreme views. Fourty-four per cent of Northern 
Californians and 50 por cent of Washingtonians expressed 
this attitude. 

Among persons in all states who believed "most” 
or "practically all" Japanese aliens were loyal, the number 
of persons under 40 years of age was higher than the number 
over 4o. And women tended to be less suspicious than men 
of the loyalty of the Japanese aliens. 

In California the majority opinion on all economic 
levels was that only a few or practically none of the 
Japanese aliens arc loyal. In Oregon, on the other hand, 
a slight majority of all economic levels believed that half 
or more of them are loyal. In Washington a majority of the 
nrosnerous felt that half or more v/crc loyal, the poor were 

r' fc i .. n . . ..mm . ™ L 

about evenly divided on the question, and those of coverage 
incomc were definitely inclined to believe that only a few 
or practically none of them wore loyal. 

The better educated in all three states arc more 
inclined to feel that half or more of the Japanese aliens 
arc loyal than are the less educated. 


























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Belief that 
Japanese 
would take 
overt action 
against U.S. 


Comparative 
threats of 
Japanese , 
German, and 
Italian 
aliens 


In Oregon and California, respondents both of 
whose parents were horn abroad were more inclined than 
other groups to feel that at least half of the Japanese 
aliens were loyal. This situation was reversed in 
Washington. 


Southern Californians, who led in believing 
that moot Japanese aliens were disloyal, were also con¬ 
sistent in feeling more strongly than others that these 
aliens would "actually do something against the United 
States if they had a. chance*" (57$ said "practically all" 
or "most of them" would do something). Residents of 
Washington were least suspicious of the Japanese aliens 
on this count. 

The better educated, consistent with inclination 
to be less critical of Japanese loyalty remarked earlier, 
arc least inclined to believe that many of the Japanese 
aliens will take action against the United States. 

Seven of every ten respondents in all areas but 
northern California believed the Japanese were "most dan- 
gcrous" as compared with German and Italian alien groups/ 
Roughly two-thirds of northern Californians expressed the 
same view, but this area had a larger number of "Don’t 


knows". 















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Although persons in all economic levels on the 
Pacific Coast tend generally to consider the Japanese aliens 
more dangerous than cither the Italians or the Germans, the 
prosperous people in California arc more suspicious of 

Jm 

German .aliens than arc the other economic levels. 


Treatment 
of Japanese 

aliens 


Treatment 
of Japaneso 
who arc 
citizens 


About three-fourths of Southern Californians 
recommend segregating a,ll Japanese aliens in Camps, when 
they arc given a chance to select one of four prescribed 
treatments. Only 5 per cent would ”trcat them as individual 
cases and not do anything to them unless there were grounds 
to suspect their loyalty.” 

In Oregon 50 per cent, in Washington 50 per cent, 
and in northern California 44 per cent would segregate them. 
Korthcrn Californians, however, led all the others in re¬ 
commending that Japanese aliens be barred from places and 
jobs where they might be dangerous. People of Washington 
led in recommending the mildest treatment — “Just trea.t 
them as individual canes”. {Vj'p) 

One-third of the Southern Californians would 
segregate in Camps all Japanese v/ho arc citizens of the 

United States. 3ut in the other aneas no more than l4 

">cr cent recommended this drastic action. Roughly one- 
fourth of respondents in all areas, however, felt that 
even these citizens should be made to report regularly 
to the police, and should be barred from places and jobs 































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Official 

A £q;ic::. 

To Handle 

the Problem 


'/here they might he dangerous. In Washington and northern 
California half the people v/ould treat such citizens as 
individual eases. In Oregon 3^ per cent held this latter 
view, and in Southern California 24 per cent. 

Generally speaking, women arc more inclined than 
men to recommend the more lenient treatment for Japanese 
who e.rc citizens. Those under 40 also tend to he more 
lenient in their recommendations than the older group. 

In California, the prosperous tend to recommend 
segregation more frequently than those of average or poor 
economic status. And in all three states the prosperous 
want to "bar such citizens from places and jobs v/here they 
might he dangerous" more often than the other economic groups. 

The P.3.1, was named most frequently hy all 
respondents as the agency which should have charge of 
deeding with the Japanese alien problem, Prom 42 per 
cent (Southern California) to 63 per cent (Washington) 
felt this way. The Army v/as the second most frequently 
recommended agency* In Oregon and Southern California 
the State Police were in third plane among agencies 
desired to handle the problem, hut in Washington and 
Northern California the Local Police were more highly 
thought of for the job than the State Police. In no 
place were more than 3 per cent in favor of having the 
Navy perform the task. 































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Impression 
of Hoy; Well 
Problem liclS 
Been Handled 


_ o _ 

J 

Those most criticr.l of the way the Federal 
Government has handled the problem to date — (those who 
say it has handled it '’poorly 1 ') arc only slightly less 
enthusiastic than those who think the Federal Government 
has handled it "very well" about having the F.3.I. in 
charge of the problem* Horo of the former think the Army 
ought to be in charge, but even so the F 4 3 * I * has 46 per 
cent of the votes among the most critical, to 36 per cent 
for the Army. 

There is a natural tendency for those who feel 
that the State Government or the County or Local officials 
have handled the problem poorly to be less inclined to favor 
entrusting the job to the state police or the local police. 

Roughly one in four in all states thought their 
State Governments had handled the problem "very well"; 
approximately the same number so appraised their local 
officials' handling of the problem; and 37 per cent thought 
the Federal Government had done "very well" in this respect. 

Southern Californians were mere critical 
of the way the Japanese alien problem had boon handled by 
Federal, State, and Local officials than any of the other 

t 

groups. They a.rc twice as critical of the Federal Government, 
and slightly less than twice a„s critical of Stake and Local 
officials in terms of the number who say the problem has 






















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been handled "poorly". Oregonians were least critical* 
Generally, however, respondents were less critical of the 
federal Government than cf the State or Local officials. 








APP3UDIX 


Quest ions on. which results in the foregoing were obtained. 


1 . 


Would you say’ there are many aliens 
v/ho are not citizens — who are not 


around here — that is people 
loyal to the United States? 


(If "Yes") What nationalities 


are they? 


2 . 


In this state, about how many Japanese do you think there are who 
are not citizens? — Just your best guess. 


3 . 


About how many of these Japanese 
the United States? 

a. Practically all of them 

b. host of them 

e. Practically 


aliens 


c. 

d. 


would you say are loyal 


About half of them 
Only a few of them 


none of them 


to 


4. Taking all the Japanese aliens in this state a.s a whole, about 
how many of them would you say would actually do anything against 
the United States if they had a chance? 


a. 

•K 


Practically all of them c. 
Most of them d. 

e. Practically none of 


About half of them 
Only a few of them 
them 


5. 


Which of these alien groups do you think is 
Japanese, Germans, or Italians? 


the most dangerous; 


o. Taking all the Japanese aliens 
these statements comes closest 
treat them? 

A. Put them all together 
can bo closely watched 


around here as a whole, v/hich of 
to the way you feel we ought to 

in camps some place where they 


3 


Make them report to the police regularly 
from places and jobs whore they might be 


and bar them 
dangerous. 


C. 


Bar them from places and jobs v/ho re they might be 
dangerous, but otherwise lot them alone. 


D. Just treat them as individual cases, and don't do 
anything to them unless there arc grounds to suspect 
their loyalty. 





7. Who do you think should have charge of this - the Army, the P.3.1. 
(G Men), the State Police, the Uavy, or the Local Police? 

8. (Unless tt Don't Know* to 6) Do you think that (respondent^ choice 
to 6) is the host possible thing to do to them, or can you think 
of a better way of handling them? 

9. Which of those same things (in question 6) comes closest to the way 
you feel wc ought to treat the Japanese here who arc citizons of 
the United States? 

10. Kow do you feel about the way the Federal Government has been hand¬ 
ling the problem of the Japanese aliens around here — Do you think 
it has handled this problem very well, only fairly well, or poorly? 

11. How do you feel about the way tho State Government has been hand¬ 
ling the problem of the Japanese aliens around here — Do you think 
it has handled this problem very well, only fairly well, or poorly? 

12. How do you feel about the way the County and Local officials have 
been handling the problem of the Japanese aliens e,rcund here — Do 
you think they have handled this problem very woll, only fairly 
well, or poorly? 


LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



0 021 394 694 8 


































